Ok lets get a few things straight.....the original poster has not used the word spam...only mass mailer...he has gone onto to say that he wants to collect numbers on his website. This means, I assume, that the consumer will be actively 'opting in' and consenting to receiving text messages in the future from the company that collects the numbers. Yes, he/she will have to be very explicit about the fact that:
- its adult and you'll get adult text, tones, images or video on your cell if you sign up
- as a consumer you many be charged if your carrier package means that you are billed for receiveing SMS
- The charge for sending an SMS to sign up may vary between carriers - check with your carrier
He's need to tell the consumer how often they will receive message, what all the associated charges are long term and, most importantly, comunicate how to 'opt out' at any time. He'll aslo need a method for verifying age.
Along will other bext practice direct marketing aproaches (data protection, not passing data to 3rd parties, not using viral member gets member schemes etc) by doingb these things it's entirely possible to build a fully opted in database of cell phone numbers for the purposes of marketing adult services..as long as the consumer has consented.
So, giving the poster the benefit of the doubt (that he was not going to grab a phone directory and start mass SMS spamming sequential cell phone numbers) using targeted opted in SMS that really 'gives the consumer something' is a very effctive way to market your sites, new programs, and promotions to an adult loving community on the move.
Yes it will cost you 5 to 8 cents per message but consider this.
There is so much 'noise' in email marketing that nost of us just auto delete..I don't even bother reading amazon.com email even though I consented to it and know that some of the books they recommend would proably be good for me! But using SMS marketing cuts through that noise.....very very few adult marketers are using SMS to talk to their customers....those that do it early are going to have the cell phone platform all to themselves. And response rates on SMS marketing campaigns arein the 5 to 10% range, not the sub 0.01% of email...wy so high? Because there is 'no noise'. And this high response rate justifies the expense of sending SMS. My 1 cents...its a smart move if done properly.
Chris, CEO, BabeCell
ICQ: 261 131 833
http://www.babecell.com